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Official: Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix

As expected, Yuki Tsunoda will indeed start for Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix, replacing Liam Lawson. The Austrian team confirmed this information on Thursday morning.

Published 27/03/2025 à 09:48

Valentin GLO

  Comment on this article! 4

Official: Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull at the Japanese Grand Prix

Photo: Red Bull Content Pool

After several days of rumors, Red Bull confirmed this Thursday morning the exchange of seats between Yuki tsunoda and Liam Lawson. In great difficulty during the first two meetings of the 2025 season of Formula 1, the New Zealander is demoted to Racing Bulls from the Japanese Grand Prix (April 6), with Tsunoda going the other way to accompany Max Verstappen.

« It was difficult to watch Liam struggle with the RB21 in the first two races and as a result we collectively made the decision to make a quick change, explains Christian Horner, Team Principal and CEO of the Austrian team. We approached the 2025 season with two ambitions: to retain the Drivers' World Championship and regain the Constructors' World Title, and this is a purely sporting decision. We recognize that there is a lot of work to be done with the RB21, and Yuki's experience will prove very beneficial in helping to develop the current car. We welcome him to the team and look forward to seeing him behind the wheel of the RB21. We have a duty to protect and develop Liam, and together, we recognize that after such a difficult start, it makes sense to act quickly so that Liam can gain experience as he continues his F1 career with Racing Bulls, an environment and team he knows very well. »

Mekies and Racing “incredibly proud” of Tsunoda

« We are incredibly proud of Yuki, who has earned his well-deserved place within Red Bull Racing, adds Laurent Mekies, Team Principal of Racing Bulls. His progress over the past year, and more recently since the beginning of 2025, has been nothing short of sensational. Personally and collectively, it has been a tremendous privilege to witness this progress for all of us at Faenza and Milton Keynes. Yuki's energy and positivity lit up every corner of our factories and garage, and he will always be a Racing Bull! We wish him all the success he deserves at Red Bull. »

For Liam Lawson, he will now have to re-engage with a team he knows well, having competed in his first 11 Grands Prix with the Faenza team.

ALSO READ > Tsunoda at Red Bull: The opportunity of a lifetime or a poisoned chalice?

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Valentin GLO

Journalist. Endurance reporter (WEC, IMSA, ELMS, ALMS) and sometimes F1 or IndyCar.

Comment on this article! 4

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4 Comment (s)

S

SYLVAIN DUCREUX

27/03/2025 at 03:08 a.m.

What if we witnessed the first Japanese victory in F1 this year? That would re-motivate me for F1...

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vincent moyet

27/03/2025 at 11:17 a.m.

They wouldn't even want Max's twin, since the two would risk taking points from each other. They're asking the impossible of a second driver: to perform in a car that doesn't suit him, and to be good without expecting any laurels. This is the message they sent to Perez when he was still trying to challenge Max, and they shattered his motivation. For such a role, you need a good "second knife," a driver capable of replacing the leader in case of a problem but who understands that he will never be world champion. Perez fell into this category, but they still managed to demotivate him. But certainly not a young, inexperienced driver who lacks the skills to assume this role and still legitimately has ambitions. But as usual, instead of seeing the obvious, they make their driver pay for the broken pieces. Unbearable characters who would be in the middle of the grid if it weren't for Verstappen.

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Lucas Paul

27/03/2025 at 10:41 a.m.

Yves Henri, you're dreaming, they were right to replace Lawson with Uki and believe me he'll still be there next year....especially if Max leaves for another team....

Yves-Henri RANDIER

27/03/2025 at 10:33 a.m.

Lawson therefore breaks the longevity record at Red Bull with a demotion to Ridiculous Bulls after ... 2 Grand Prix, a protective measure according to Christian Horner !! That being said, there is no longer any need to protect Tsunhonda since he will no longer be in the cans fold in 2026, nor even in Formula 1. With this poisoned promotion from Suzuka on Honda's ground (Red Bull is also pleasing its engine manufacturer), Tsunoda therefore signs the end of his Formula 1 racing career because he will not do much better than his comrades in the second Red Bull. The Austrian management has not yet found a worthy replacement for Verstappen in its sector because they would need Max's twin in the second RB21.

1

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